iBeastie Blogs

Alpina had several new offerings at Baselworld this year, The Alpina Extreme Diver 300 Automatic Chronograph is a beautiful and worthy diver, The Alpina Geneve 2013 Sailing Yachttimer Countdown, is another stunner and The Startimer Pilot Chrono Big Date as has really caught our eye and we have already highlighted this here. When we looked at the Startimer Pilot I mentioned that I want to also showcase The Alpina 130 Heritage Pilot Automatic Chronograph, which is frankly sublime, so here it is Click the photos for delicious watch shots courtesy of Alpina and as I said on my last Alpina blog, like me fall in love with the watches as you read the Alpina press release below.

Alpina 130 Heritage Pilot Automatic Chronograph

Alpina, the inventor of the modern sport watch, celebrates 130 Years of watchmaking

Since 1883, the contribution of Alpina to the Swiss watchmaking industry has been in the innovation of caliber and watch production methods and organisation. It can be rightly said that the “Alpina Union Horlogère,” whose members were called the “Alpinists," was the ancestor of today’s modern Swiss watch groups.

With the creation of the legendary “Alpina 4” in 1938, Alpina invented the modern sports watch by defining and uniting in one watch the four necessary criteria - which still apply to this day - for a watch to be called a sports watch.

Since 1883, Alpina has conceived and manufactured its own movements and chronometers in-house. The famous 877, 582, 592 movements, just to name a few, today have their modern counterparts in the Alpina AL-980 Tourbillon, AL-950 Automatic Regulator, AL-718 WorldTimer and the AL-710 Small Date manufacture movements.

Alpina’s mission today, just as it was 130 years ago, is to manufacture extremely reliable, professional sports watches that embody the legacy of our visionary founder, Gottlieb Hauser. This is our reason for being, and the purpose of our work.

Alpina 130, Heritage Pilot Automatic Chronograph

It is an Alpina tradition to celebrate every decade of existence with a commemorative timepiece. Remaining loyal to this tradition, we celebrate our 130th anniversary with the Alpina 130, an automatic “Bi-compax" chronograph, inspired by an iconic Alpina pilot chronograph design from the beginning of the 20th century. While the design of this watch was inspired by the past, the Alpina 130 is resolutely contemporary in both its elegant design and technical conception.

Horological details which are no details

The Alpina 130 features a «Glass Box» sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating. This complex crystal construction, as well as its perfect integration with the stainless steel or gold-plated case, gives the watch both an elegant and robust appearance, and guarantees perfect contrast between all elements of the dial, regardless of the angle of the light shining on the watch.

The classic dial design, with Telemeter and Tachymeter scales provides a perfect balance between technicality, elegance and readability, which is the signature of every Alpina professional aviation watch. To please true watchmaking enthusiasts, the AL-860 automatic chronograph caliber, with its fine fish scales decoration and blue screws, can be admired through the transparent case back of the Alpina 130.

Telemeter & tachymeter

The dial of the Alpina 130 is not only perfectly balanced in design, but also provides the functionality so essential to the gentleman in his cockpit.

The Tachymeter scale gives the means to measure average speed of movement, while the Telemeter scale provides the distance between the source of a specific sound effect and the position of the listener.

These functions are particularly important for pilots and drivers who rely on time, speed and distance variables. The «Bi-compax» layout of the chronograph counters, powered by the AL-860 Alpina caliber, complete the professional features of the Alpina 130 by providing optimal readability of the information found on the dial.

Alpina had several new offerings at Baselworld this year, The Alpina Extreme Diver 300 Automatic Chronograph is a beautiful and worthy diver, The Alpina Geneve 2013 Sailing Yachttimer Countdown, is another stunner and The Alpina 130 Heritage Pilot Automatic Chronograph is just delicious and I will have to highlight that one shortly too, as it is another to add to my watch wish list! Here though I want to showcase The Startimer Pilot Chrono Big Date as this has really caught our eye and if I'm honest my favourite is the geen faced version, with the green canvas strap and the PVD case. Click the photos for delicious watch shots courtesy of Alpina and like me fall in love with the watches as you read the Alpina press release below.

The New Alpina StarTimer Pilot Chrono Big Date

The all-new StarTimer Pilot Chronograph Big Date was not designed for the business class traveller sitting in Seat 1A of a 747 jet; the one who has to decide between the beef or the salmon for his in-flight meal. This new range of Alpina Pilot timepieces was designed for serious pilots who fly in fast jets and who make split second decisions about the limits to which they can push their planes and themselves.

Features without frills

The StarTimer Pilot Chrono Big Date comes with plenty of features, but no frills. It features the perefctly readable and essential aviation dials of the Alpina Startimer range that are appreciated by pilots worldwide. Every element of functionality built into these watches is designed to provide the essential information to a pilot, the moment he needs it.

Every model in the new range is driven by the AL-372 quartz chronograph movement. Other features include an extra-wide 44 mm-diameter, two-part stainless steel case, a scratchproof sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, big date and small second displays at the 6 o’clock position. The unmistakable red Alpina triangle signature “the Alpiner” is in its traditional position at the base of the second hand, and for activities other than flying, these watches are water resistant to 100 metres. All watches from the collection come with a fabric “Cordura” strap with a tongue buckle in different colours matching the dial and case, or a stainless steel bracelet.

From one pioneer to another

The StarTimer Pilot Chrono Big Date comes with plenty of features, but no frills. It features the perefctly readable and essential aviation dials of the Alpina Startimer range that are appreciated by pilots worldwide. Every element of functionality built into these watches is designed to provide the essential information to a pilot, the moment he needs it.

A great range from which to choose

The first three watches in the new range, the B4S6, the BRS6B and the B4FBS6, all feature a striking black dial with extra-large contrasting white numerals. The indexes are Superluminova coated for optimum visibility in poor lighting conditions.

You can choose from either a subtle grey fabric strap with a tongue buckle, or a fashionable metal bracelet. Another variation sees the watch offered with a black PVD case and matching black fabric strap.The next model on offer is the GR4FBS6. This watch features a black PVD case, a military green 60 minutes dial and contrasting beige-coloured, luminous minute indexes and hands.

To complete the new look, a sand-coloured fabric strap offers the perfect complement to the beige hands and indexes.

Finally, the BGR4S6 is presented with a stainless steel case and a grey “camouflage” grey dial, lending the timepiece an appearance that respects both military and aviation specifications. The grey “camouflage” dial offers an excellent background for the beige minute indexes and hands. The sand-coloured fabric strap completes the package.

If you’re passionate about actually flying, rather than just travelling in airplanes; if you’d rather make a vertical climb than sit in a recliner, the new StarTimer Pilot Chrono Big Date range will suit your high-G lifestyle, as well as your spirit.

Technical Specifications

Movement Quartz caliber, AL-372

Battery life 48 months

Functions Hours, minutes, small seconds, big date, chronograph

Case Round 2-part stainless steel case, 44 mm diameter

Sapphire crystal, nicely engraved back with Cessna plane image

Crown and case back screwed

10 ATM Water-resistant

Dial Black, Green or Greydial, large white luminous numerals for the hours

Ok so this is old news to those out there who sit on the pulse of the watch world, but these are beauties, which I could very happily live with! Here is what Chopard has to say about them.

The Classic Racing collection, paying tribute to the automobile world, is now enriched with three outstanding watches auguring a new era for Chopard. The sporty, sophisticated and powerful Superfast Automatic, Power Control and Chrono are indeed fitted with Chopard movements from our Fleurier Ebauches workshops, becoming the first watches in this iconic collection with movements entirely designed, developed and assembled in-house.

Superfast models are intended for devotees of fine watchmaking capable of taming the inevitable feeling of power they procure. Generously sized while displaying bold lines and a resolutely virile design, these three new Superfast models carry references to the world of competitive car racing.

The dial of each model displays silver brushed vertical lines against a black background evoking the cooling fins found on air-cooled racing engines. On the inner bezel ring, the minute numerals adopt the appearance of the markers that adorn sports-car rev-counters and speedometers. The hour, minute and seconds counters provide the legibility required in tense situations.

The natural rubber strap carries the smooth tread of the slick tyres immediately identifiable with high-speed track motor racing. A multitude of other elements – such as the Classic Racing collection’s steering wheel logo on the rubber-moulded gold crown, the grooves engraved on the sides of the lugs – continuing the Superfast’s cooling-fin theme, rubber-coated pushers for better grip, as well as the Allen screws on the bezel inspired by those on car-wheel rims – all refer to the world of auto racing.

Even the movements have been specially prepared. All the bridges are openworked with thin parallel lines in the style of cooling vents on sports cars – an unusual finish which allows the inner workings of the movement to be tirelessly admired through the transparent case-back.

Here at Beastie Folly we keep stumbling across new offerings at Baselworld that we really like.There have been a few retro styles, such as the Omega Bullhead and the Tudor Heritage in blue, which we have already highlighted here. Longines have a few appealing new models and we especially like the new Hydroconquest which we will showcase shortly. Frédérique Constant have also been busy and they have sent us this press promotion which includes a stunning photoset of their new Slimline Moonphase model. It's worth clicking the images for the full size shots they are lovely.

Lady Peanut loves moonphase watches but in truth they have never grabbed me but here Frédérique Constant really have produced a well thought out model. The style is simple and elegant and this is reinforced by the slim case and the result is beautiful. I could have one in every colour! Below is the official press release text.

The All-New Frédérique Constant Slimline Moonphase Manufacture

Simply Wonderful and Wonderfully Simple…

With NASA’s Curiosity Explorer currently rambling over the surface of Mars, people on Earth are getting wonderfully detailed pictures and views of the planet that has long been the subject of folklore, myth, legend and speculation. We can see images on our television sets, videos on our computers and I-Pads, and a select few can even scan the Red Planet in real time with powerful telescopes.

However, one of the glorious things about the world in which we live is that every single person on this planet can look to the sky and see the awesome, wondrous moon, without the aid of rovers, telescopes or television pictures. It doesn’t matter where you are or the circumstances in which you live; the bright, beautiful moon is available to us all.

The new Slimline Moonphase Manufacture—as timeless as the moon itself

The appearance of the moon has not changed since the dawn of time. Yet it continues to inspire the same stirring emotions and passions as when the first men looked to the bright light in the night sky...and wondered.

Frédérique Constant has incorporated elegant design features into the new Slimline Moonphase Manufacture that would not have looked out of place a century ago; nor will they look outdated even 100 years into the future. If the moon could make a style statement, it would be that simple beauty never goes out of style.

Five new models are being introduced, and all are driven by the unique FC-705 Manufacture calibre. Each model shares a number of features, and all are presented in a unique, specially designed wooden gift box.

Only one crown required

In spite of the amazing features incorporated into the new Slimline Moonphase Collection, the true genius of these watches is that each complication can be accessed through the watch’s single crown. This ability is an increasingly important feature in Frédérique Constant watches.

The crown can be set into three positions. “Position 0” is selected for winding the watch. At “Position 1,” the date can be adjusted by turning the crown clockwise. Turning the crown counter clockwise allows users to adjust the moonphase. Finally, “Position 2” allows users to make adjustments to the hour and minute hands. It’s as easy as that!

Other common features include the elegant slimline design and a case diameter of 42 millimetres. All models also come with the exceptionally popular convex sapphire crystal on the front and see-through case back. In addition, each dial presents the date display and moonphase at the 6 o’clock position. An incredible new technology known as “laser ablation” has been used to create an outstandingly detailed and precise image of the moon. Finally, each of the new Slimline Moonphase models comes with a 26-jewel movement, an impressive 42-hour power reserve and a Perlage and Circular Côtes de Genève decoration on the movement.

When only blue will do, the FC-705N4S6 is a watch owner’s dream. The second of the stainless steel models has a strikingly handsome navy blue dial, which contrasts wonderfully with the nickel indexes and hands. The alligator strap is also a striking blue, accented with off-white stitching and tongue buckle.

The gleaming rose gold plated case of the FC-705V4S4 exudes understated elegance. The domed silver dial contrasts wonderfully with the rose gold plated hands and indexes, and a dark brown alligator strap stands out beautifully from the slim case.

At the apex of the Slimline Moonphase range stand two models featuring solid 18 carat rose gold cases. The FC-705V4S9 is presented with a domed silver dial and hand-applied rose gold plated indexes and hands, with a dark brown alligator strap. The FC-705C4S9, on the other hand, comes with a stunning chocolate brown dial, which blends beautifully with the rose gold plated hands, indexes and dark brown alligator strap.

Whether high in the sky or sitting proudly on your wrist, the moon will continue to draw admiring looks, forever.

The Breitling Emergency is back to save the world again and with a colour to suit every life saving situation. It's on the Grail list, we love it and so what if the most daring thing I will ever do with it is to time a boiled egg, I don't half want one! Text and photos from Breitling.

Breitling has reaffirmed its pioneering role in the field of technical watches and instruments for professionals by creating the very first wristwatch with a built-in personal locator beacon (PLB). The Emergency II is a high-tech gem equipped with a dual frequency transmitter compliant with the specifications of the Cospas-Sarsat international satellite alert system and serving both to issue alerts and to guide search and rescue missions.

Developed in conjunction with major scientific institutes, the Emergency II is distinguished by numerous microelectronic and microtechnical innovations, including a revolutionary rechargeable battery, a miniaturized dual frequency transmitter and an unprecedented integrated antenna system – three features specifically developed for this model.

As the first ever wristworn dual frequency PLB, it establishes itself as a safety and survival instrument in all distress situations on land, at sea and in the air.